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Drug arrest made after vehicle search

By Michael S. Lee

Of The Commercial Staff

A roadside welfare check by an Arkansas State Trooper on Interstate 530 north of White Hall Monday evening resulted in the arrest of a man on drug charges.

Arkansas State Trooper Mark Blackerby said in a probable-cause affidavit that he was on routine patrol Monday when he spotted a blue Ford F-150 pickup occupied by Christopher Staley, 39, parked on the shoulder of southbound 530 near mile marker 27.

Blackerby said that he asked Staley why he was stopped and was told that the vehicle was out of gas. Blackerby said Staley appeared to be extremely nervous and that he received a negative reply when he asked Staley if there was anything illegal in his truck.

Blackerby said that he asked Staley to exit his vehicle so that he could conduct a search of Staley’s person and truck which resulted in the discovery of items containing what Staley allegedly said was methamphetamine. Blackerby said that he also discovered metal smoking pipes with a white residue on them.

On Tuesday Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgeforth set a $10,000 bond for Staley after ruling that prosecutors had probable cause to charge him with possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Staley asked for time to hire an attorney and was told to report back to court Aug. 23.